How Chime Communications' break-up is unfolding

Leading the MBO

Lord BellChairman, Chime Communications

Bell's plan to carry out an MBO of Chime businesses that are constituents of Bell Pottinger is expected to be complete by the end of May, with a circular being sent to shareholders shortly thereafter. In an interim management statement released last week, Chime said that the main terms had been agreed.

Has been with Bell Pottinger for three years, before which he was director of comms at Marconi

Paul Bell

Deputy chairman, Bell Pottinger Group

Moving to a contracted role rather than full-time employment

Confirmed as included in the MBO

Bell Pottinger Middle East

Bell Pottinger Public Affairs

Bell Pottinger Public Relations

Bell Pottinger Sans Frontieres

Pelham Bell Pottinger

Powerful shareholder

Sir Martin SorrellCEO, WPP

Sorrell, whose company WPP owns 20 per cent of Chime, has misgivings about the planned transaction. Last month, he said that Bell's plan represented 'a bad deal for Chime'. WPP also increased its shareholding in Chime last month, buying itself another person on the board.

Already gone

Peter Bingle Chairman, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs

Bingle left Bell Pottinger Public Affairs last Friday and is understood to be launching his own consultancy, named Peter Bingle Consulting. It is understood that there have been further headcount reductions in public affairs, now led by former Lib Dem strategist Stephen Lotinga. Lord Bell said that Bell Pottinger Public Affairs would remain a 'very important part' of the group.

Brands - position still to be revealed

Bell Pottinger MMK

Bell Pottinger North

Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger

Holding the fort at Chime

Chris Satterthwaite

CEO, Chime Communications

Satterthwaite plans to reinvest the proceeds of the MBO into sectors that are expected to show good growth, such as sports marketing. The group is pursuing a 'transition strategy' to becoming a 'comms and sports marketing business'. Satterthwaite is thought to be strongly supportive of the MBO deal.